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How to stay safe while playing online bingo

If you're new to the world of online bingo, you might be wondering how to choose the right bingo site. The most important thing to look for when searching for the best bingo site is safety. There are a lot of sites to choose from, and some prioritise safe online bingo more than others.

So, is playing bingo online safe in the first place? And what makes a safe bingo site? There are several things to look for.

Is online bingo safe?

Several factors influence how safe online bingo is. The site you use and the way you engage with the game and other users can make a big difference when staying safe during online bingo sessions.

Legitimate sites will have licences and accreditations to prove they're regulated. Some sites will also have additional safety measures and tools in place to improve security, help prevent data breaches, and minimise irresponsible gambling.

However, even if you use a reputable site or app, you're still responsible for playing online bingo safely. You should avoid sharing personal information and play the game in a way that works for you, taking advantage of the helpful tools available. 

Here are some things to look out for when playing safe online bingo.

Check for a gambling licence for safe online bingo

To confirm you're playing online bingo safely, the first thing to do is check whether the website you're using has a gambling licence. 

Often found in the footer of the homepage, a legitimate gambling site will always display that they are licensed. Along with any licensing jurisdiction logos, the site will also link to the licence register, which has information about the types of activity that the site is permitted to offer.

If, like tombola, a site is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission , you're automatically protected by tough consumer protection rules. The Gambling Commission also ensures that the site meets regulations. For example, we use a Random Number Generator (RNG) for all our bingo games. To make sure that the Random Number Generator is fair, it's tested by an independent auditor and then approved by the Gambling Commission. So, you'll not only play online bingo safely, but you'll also play it fairly.

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Look for safety accreditations 

Our GamCare Certification showcases the hard work we put into creating a safe online bingo experience for our players. GamCare is the UK's national centre for advice and support for those who struggle with gambling. This certification means that we meet the GamCare Player Protection Code of Practice for Remote Gambling. 

Remember, you can contact GamCare for support 24/7. 

Keep your personal details private

Account security is one of the key things to look out for when searching for a safe online bingo site. To ensure none of your financial or personal information can be accessed by a third party, most of the best bingo sites use a technology called SSL encryption. SSL encryption safeguards any personal data sent between two systems and is the same technology that's used for online banking.

Not only is it a good idea to check out the account security when looking for a safe online bingo site, but you also need to be mindful of the information you share. One of the main reasons to play online bingo with tombola is because of our amazing community. 

With lots of friendly players and Chat Hosts to talk to in our chat rooms, you may be tempted to reveal personal details about yourself. However, we would never recommend sharing any personal information, such as your full name, address, or phone number, in the chat rooms. While we want you to enjoy yourself, we also want to make sure you're playing online bingo safely.

We'd also recommend thinking carefully before choosing your username. Rather than using your full name, it’s worth spending a little extra time coming up with something unique so you can engage in safe online bingo that won't reveal too much information about yourself.

Look for spend and withdrawal restrictions

Many of the best bingo sites use withdrawal restrictions to help you play online bingo safely. Our players are only permitted to withdraw to the payment method they used to deposit. This means that anything in your account can only be withdrawn to your personal bank account.

Safe online bingo sites also often restrict the amount of money you can spend within a certain time frame. Although these amounts may vary, they're in place for your safety. At tombola, for example, we have a maximum weekly net deposit limit of £250 per week. We do, however, like to encourage our players to set their own limits.

Set your limits so you can play online bingo safely

As with anything you enjoy, it can be easy to get carried away when playing bingo. Our Deposit Limit tool is just one of many ways to ensure you play online bingo safely here at tombola.

In our safeplay section, you'll find all of our responsible gambling tools and we encourage our players to check them out.

Our Stake Limits tool is handy for anyone looking to cut back on their spending. It enables you to set a maximum amount you wish to be able to stake per game, which means you can play a safe game of online bingo with no regrets.

There's also the option to take a Cool Off from the site for anywhere between 24 hours and 5 months. Or, for a longer break, you can use the Self Exclusion tool. Using this function, you can ban yourself from the site for a period ranging from 6 months to permanently.

Other tools include Game Freeze, which allows you to remove the option to play a particular game, and our time management tool: Time Keeper. We're all for safe online bingo that encourages players to join in responsibly.

What should I do if I'm exceeding my limit regularly?

If you feel like you're losing control of your spending, it could be time to take a break. Our safeplay tools include Self Exclusion, which removes your access to your account for a minimum of six months. You can choose to leave us for longer if that's the best choice for you.

Playing bingo online is meant to be fun! If you're not enjoying the games or spending time with our online community anymore, it's probably time to stop. You can always learn more about self-exclusion if you're worried about your gambling. In the meantime, we're here to help.

Use Time Keeper when playing

Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? We know it’s easy to lose track of time when playing your favourite bingo games. That’s why the best safe online bingo sites help you to not only limit the amount of money you spend on their site but also the time you spend!

Found in the safeplay section, along with our other handy responsible gambling tools, our Time Keeper function helps you monitor the time you spend playing on tombola. You can set the timer to notify you after playing our games for either one hour, two hours, or three hours. At the end of the timer, you'll be given the option to either close the game, view your transaction history, or keep playing.

If you ever have any questions about anything related to safe online bingo or any of our safeplay tools, we have a dedicated team who are available to chat 24/7.

Why choose tombola for safe online bingo?

As Britain's biggest online bingo site, we have countless awards to our name. Many of these acknowledge how we take responsibility to ensure our community can play online bingo safely while still having a whale of a time.

We're proud of our tombola community, which is brought to life with Chat Rooms available 24/7, plus plenty of quizzes and games with prizes to be won. Players can also take comfort in our Gold Advanced Level 3 Safer Gambling Standard accreditation, which is a huge reassurance for those seeking safe online bingo. On top of this, we were the first online bingo company to achieve the highest accreditation in our mission to help players play responsibly.

Safe online bingo FAQs

Start playing online bingo safely today

Start playing safe online bingo by registering with tombola today. An incredible community awaits, plus you have the chance to win fantastic prizes every single day.

Choose your username and register your details securely. Before you know it, you'll be part of Britain's biggest online bingo community. Remember, you don't need to stake money or play games to use our chat rooms or play our chat games.